Listening to a Continent Sing

the companion website to the book by Donald Kroodsma

STELLER’S JAY OR-343

Willamette Valley, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

May 23, 8:55 a.m.

Sunrise at 5:37 a.m.

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It's a hawk . . . no, wait, it's a Steller's jay mimicking the asthmatic kee-eeee-arrr scream of a red-tailed hawk! The sound isn't quite asthmatic enough--it's a little too pure and tonal for a red-tail, and not drawn out enough either. Also, a red-tail wouldn't call this frequently. As this bird emerged from the dense vegetation, its identity was clear, and especially when it proclaimed shook shook shook while flying away.

Background

Lazuli bunting, orange-crowned warbler, western wood-pewee, another songbird at 0:11 that I don't quite recognize (jumbled song--warbling vireo?)

stja-1

Photo by John Van de Graaff